Cord holder



May 14, 1963 c. E. RITTER CORD HOLDER Filed April 6. 1962 [N VEN TOR.

BY Qj N u: M J 35W United States Patent 3,689,210 CORD HGLDER Charles E. Ritter, 214 N. 8th Ave., Des Plaiues, Ill. Filed Apr. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 185,663 6 Claims. (@1- 24--'71.1)

This invention relates generally to cord holders, and more specifically to a novel cord holder arrangement for shortening and storing the intermediate portions of a cord.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel cord holder for intermediate portions of a cord which in its construction and use is simple and eflicient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel molded cord holder of a simple two piece construction for reducing the length of a cord by various selected increments and retaining the excess cord therewithin.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a cord holder constructed according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the structure of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View of the structure shown in FIGURE 1 with the cover portion thereof removed; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1 and taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Generally, the cord holder of the present invention comprises two molded sections which may respectively be designated a base section and a cover section, The base and cover sections may be formed of a plastic material, and cooperate to define a container open at each end thereof. In the present embodiment, the cover and base portions are provided with interfitting projections and notches for retaining the cover and base sections together as a unit. However, it is contemplated that the projection and notch on one side of the device may be replaced by a hinge arrangement. The base section is internally provided with a plurality of upstanding walls positioned in a parallel spaced apart relationship. The openings at each end of the device are defined partially by the base section and partially by the cover section so that when the cover section is removed from the base section, slots are defined at each end of the base section for receiving a length of cord.

In using the subject invention, a length of cord is threaded from the slot at one end and between the spaced apart walls in a serpentine arrangement of one or more layers until the desired reduction in the length of the cord is accomplished. The cord is then directed out of the other end slot and the cover section is secured to the base section to effectively retain the excess length of cord therein.

Because of the ornamental effect of the construction of the invention, it finds particular use in reducing the length of an electric lamp cord for a residential table or floor lamp.

In detail, the base section 16 and the cover section 11 exclusively define the two separable portions of the invention. The base and cover sections ll; and 11 may be molded of a plastic material.

The base section 10 comprises a bottom wall 12 inter-. connecting two spaced apart side walls 13 and end walls 14-. The end walls 14 are formed to curve upwardly from the bottom wall 12 and inwardly from the side walls 13 so that the extreme end portions of the end walls 14 are substantially reduced in size. The extreme end portions of the end walls 14- are provided with slots 15 defining one half of a cord opening. The slots 15 are in substantial axial alignment.

The base section 10 is further provided with a wall 16, a wall 17, two walls 18, a wall 19, and a wall 20. All of the walls 16 through 20 are integrally formed as portions of the base section 10, all are aligned in a parallel spaced apart arrangement, and further all are of substantially the same length. The wall 16 is formed as an upward extension of one of the side walls 13, and the wall 26 is formed as an upward extension of the other side wall 13. One end of the wall 16 is provided with an integrally formed projection 16a which extends toward the wall 17. The projection 16a defines a surface which is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the wall 16 and forms one half of a cord locking arrangement The cooperating end of the wall 17 is provided with a projection 17a which defines a surface inclined to, the longitudinal axis of the wall 17 and parallel to the inclined surface of the projection 16a to therewith define a cord locking arrangement. The cord locking arrangement of the projections 16a and 17a operates by causing a relatively sharp kink in the cord as it passes between the projections 16a and 17a. An integrally formed projection 20a, similar to projection 16a, is formed on the end of the wall 20 which is disposed at the opposite end of the base section 10 from that end carrying the projection 16a. The projection 20 cooperates with a projection 19a formed on the wall 19 to define a second cord locking arrangement. The two walls 18 are positioned in a parallel spaced apart relationship between the walls 17 and 19. The walls 17, 18 and 19 are of substantially the same height; that height being sufiicient to posiiton the upper edge of the walls 17, 18 and 19 closely adjacent the underside of the cover section 11 when the cover section 11 is secured to the base section 10 as shown in FIGURE 1. The height of the walls 16' and 2t) are substantially the same and less than the height of the walls 17, 18 and 19. The walls 16 through 20 are of a length substantially equal to the length of the bottom and side walls 12 and 13. That length provides that a cord entering either slot 15 will be kinked in passing through either the projections 16a and 17a or 19a and 20a, and further provides sufiicient space at each end of the walls for looping the cord around the ends of the walls 17, 18 and 19, as may be seen in FIG- URE 4, with the end designated 27.

The outwardly disposed surface of each of the waHs 16 and 20 is provided with a groove 16b and 2%, respectively, for cooperation with certain projections of the cover section 11 in an interfitting relationship to lock the cover section :11 to the base section 10. The notches or grooves 16b and 2% are positionedsubstantially longi-. tudinally of the walls 16 and 20 and are further spaced downwardly from the upper edges thereof.

The shape of the cover section 11 is substantially complementary to the shape of the base section 10, and comprises an upper wall 22 interconnecting a pair of spaced apart side walls 23 and a pair of end walls 24. The end walls 24 are formed to curve downwardly from the top wall 22 and inwardly from the side walls 23 so that the extreme end portions of the end walls 24- .are substantially reduced in size. The extreme end portions of the end walls 24 are provided with slots 25 defining one half of a cord opening. The slots 25 are in substantial axial alignment. When the cover section 11 is locked to the base section 10, the slots 15 and 25 cooperate to define a complete cord opening at each extreme end of the invention. The lower marginal edges of the side walls 23 and the end walls 24 of the cover section 11 engage the upper marginal edges of the side walls 13 and the end Walls 14 of the base section when the cover section .11 is placed upon the base section 10. The inner side of the side walls 23 of the cover section 11 are provided with projections which will extend into the notches 16b and 20b of the walls 16 and 20 when the cover section 11 is placed upon the base section 10. The present invention contemplates that one of the projections of the side walls 23 and either one of the notches 16b or 20b may be replaced by hinge means.

The invention further includes a pair of coin slots by which a coin may be used to pry the cover section 11 from the base section 10. The pair of coin slots are defined by a notch 23a formed in the outer lower marginal edge of each of the side walls 23 of the cover section .11 and a notch 13a formed in the outer upper marginal edge of each of the side Walls 13 of the base section 10.

When the cord holder is used to shorten and store a length of electric cord, the upper wall 22 of the cover section 11 is provided with a pair of slots 26 which will permit air to circulate through the cord holder to prevent the accumulation of heat which may be developed in the stored electric cord. The heat venting means of the invention may have other shapes and positions.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A cord holder comprising, a base member and a cover member, said base member comprising a pair of spaced apart side walls and a pair of spaced apart end Walls integrally molded together and to a bottom wall, said end walls of said base member being formed as a surface inclined inwardly from side walls and upwardly from said bottom wall, there being a slot formed in the upper marginal edge of the extreme end portion of each of said end walls of said base member, said cover member comprising a pair of spaced apart side walls and a pair of spaced apart end walls integrally molded together and to a top wall, said end walls of said cover member being formed to extend inwardly from said side walls and downwardly from said top wall thereof, a slot formed in the lower marginal edge of the extreme end portion of each of said end walls of said cover member, said end and side walls of said base member and said cover member being relatively formed to cooperate to define a closed container with said slots thereof cooperating to define a pair of axially aligned cord openings at each extreme end portion of said cord holder when said cover member is positioned on said base member, means for securing said cover member on said base member, wall means formed on said bottom wall in said base member and extending upwardly into cooperation with the underside of said top wall of said cover member for receiving a cord extending through said cord openings in a serpentine relationship thereabout, and there being opposed projections dformed on said wall means 'for kinking a portion of any cord extending through one of said cord openings, between said projections and disposed about said wall means.

2. A cord holder comprising, a base member and a cover member, said base member comprising a pair of spaced apart side walls and a pair of spaced apart end walls integrally molded together and to a bottom wall,

said end walls of said base member being formed as a surface inclined inwardly from side walls and upwardly from said bottom wall, there being a slot formed in the upper marginal edge of the extreme end portion of each of said end walls of said base member, said cover member comprising a pair of spaced apart side walls and a pair of spaced end Walls integrally molded together and to a top wall, said end Walls of said cover member being formed to extend inwardly from said side walls and downwardly from said top wall thereof, a slot formed in the lower marginal edge of the extreme end portion of each of said end walls of said cover member, said end and side walls of said base member and said cover member being relatively formed to cooperate to define a closed container with said slots thereof cooperating to define a pair of axially aligned cord openings at each extreme end portion of said cord holder when said cover member is positioned on said base member, means for securing said cover member on said base member, wall means formed on said bottom wall in said base member and extending upwardly into cooperation with the underside of said top wall of said cover member for receiving a cord extending through said cord openings in a serpentine relationship thereabout, and said wall means comprising a plurality of walls integrally molded on said bottom wall of said base member with said plurality of walls positioned in a parallel spaced apart relationship to each other and parallel to the axis of said cord openings.

3. In a cord holder as defined in claim 2, wherein said plurality of walls are of a length substantially equal to the length of said bottom wall of said base member and the length of said top wall of said cover member whereby said end walls of said base member and said cover member accommodate the turned portions of any cord disposed about said plurality of walls in a serpentine arrangement.

4. In a cord holder as defined in claim 3, wherein the outer side of the outwardmost pair of walls of said plurality of walls are coplanar with the inward sides of the side walls of said base member and said cover member, and wherein said means for securing said cover member on said base member comprises a pair of grooves formed in the outward sides of said outwardmost pair of walls of said plurality of walls, said pair of grooves being positioned substantially longitudinally of said walls, and a pair of projections integrally formed on the inner side of the side walls of said cover member, said pair of projections being positioned to engage said pair of grooves to secure said cover member on said base member.

5. In a cord holder as defined in claim 4, a coin slot partially formed in the lower marginal edge of one side wall of said cover member and partially formed in the upper marginal edge of one side wall of said base member whereby a coin is insertable in said coin slot for prying said cover member from said base member.

6. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which said container has vent openings in the walls thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,321,660 Moriarty Nov. 11, 19.19 2,160,961 Dorman June 6, 1939 2,181,065 Pfeifier et a1 Nov. 21, 1939 2,364,262 Wehringer Dec. 5, 1944 2,582,787 Martin Jan. 15, 1952 2,593,018 Fendrock Apr. 15, 1952 

1. A CORD HOLDER COMPRISING, A BASE MEMBER AND A COVER MEMBER, SAID BASE MEMBER COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED APART SIDE WALLS AND A PAIR OF SPACED APART END WALLS INTEGRALLY MOLDED TOGETHER AND TO A BOTTOM WALL, SAID END WALLS OF SAID BASE MEMBER BEING FORMED AS A SURFACE INCLINED INWARDLY FROM SIDE WALLS AND UPWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL, THERE BEING A SLOT FORMED IN THE UPPER MARGINAL EDGE OF THE EXTREME END PORTION OF EACH OF SAID END WALLS OF SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID COVER MEMBER COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED APART SIDE WALLS AND A PAIR OF SPACED APART END WALLS INTEGRALLY MOLDED TOGETHER AND TO A TOP WALL, SAID END WALLS OF SAID COVER MEMBER BEING FORMED TO EXTEND INWARDLY FROM SAID SIDE WALLS AND DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP WALL THEREOF, A SLOT FORMED IN THE LOWER MARGINAL EDGE OF THE EXTREME END PORTION OF EACH OF SAID END WALLS OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND SAID COVER MEMBER SIDE WALLS OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND SAID COVER MEMBER BEING RELATIVELY FORMED TO COOPERATE TO DEFINE A CLOSED CONTAINER WITH SAID SLOTS THEREOF COOPERATING TO DEFINE A PAIR OF AXIALLY ALIGNED CORD OPENINGS AT EACH EXTREME END PORTION OF SAID CORD HOLDER WHEN SAID COVER MEMBER IS POSITIONED ON SAID BASE MEMBER, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID COVER MEMBER ON SAID BASE MEMBER, WALL MEANS FORMED ON SAID BOTTOM WALL IN SAID BASE MEMBER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY INTO COOPERATION WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP WALL OF SAID COVER MEMBER FOR RECEIVING A CORD EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CORD OPENINGS IN A SERPENTINE RELATIONSHIP THEREABOUT, AND THERE BEING OPPOSED PROJECTIONS FORMED ON SAID WALL MEANS FOR KINKING A PORTION OF ANY CORD EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAID CORD OPENINGS, BETWEEN SAID PROJECTIONS AND DISPOSED ABOUT SAID WALL MEANS. 